Jean Vetter, deceased, founder of the Delphos Hardware
Company, at Delphos, and one of the city's most valued and respected
men, was born in 1848 in Hessen, Germany.
After completing a public and normal school education by the time he
was 20 years old, Jean Vetter came to America. He had also learned the
locksmith's trade in his native land and soon found employment at
Crestline, Ohio, in a Crestline lock shop, where he remained for the
next five years. In 1875 he came to Delphos and opened up a hardware
business on a small scale. The venture proved successful and developed
into important business of the Delphos Hardware Company. He erected the
fine building in which this business is located, and he also put up a
number of other substantial structures in the city. After an active and
useful life, he retired to the enjoyment of the fruits of his former
energy; but two years later, on October 19, 1903, a sudden message came
and he passed away. For some time his health had not been of the best
and an affection of the heart developed. For a number of years he was a
member of the Board of Education and was a liberal supporter of all
educational and religious reforms. He was a consistent member of the
Lutheran Church. His only fraternal connection was with the Knights of
Pythias.
Mr. Vetter was married at Delphos to Lina Eysenbach, the youngest
daughter of the late Prof. Wendel Eysenbach, and they had three
children, viz.: Ella, wife of Louis Huber, who is interested in the
Delphos Hardware Company they have one daughter, Mildred; Amelia, wife
of William Du Wece, also of the Delphos Hardware Company they have one
child, John Vetter; Meta, wife of William Steinle, son of Felix Steinle;
and Ernest.
The late Prof. Wende Eysenbach was born in Eberstadt, Germany,
April 29 1810. At the age of 17 he attended the seminary of Friedberg
and was graduated there as a public teacher at the age of 20 years.
After acting for a time as private tutor, he received an appointment as
public teacher, and for many years was popular as such. During the
troubles of the Revolution of 1848 he was impeached by the government on
account of his liberal sentiments and as a result of a trial was
sentenced to punishment. However, in 1851 he escaped to America with
his family and settled on a farm in Marion township, Allen County, east
of Delphos, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in May,
1886. He was a natural and trained musician and taught the piano for
about 10 years, having many pupils in Lima.
In 1838 he married Margaret Schillings and they had four sons and
one daughter who were born in Germany, namely: Louis, a farmer of
Marion township; Henry P. a merchant and manufacture of Delphos; William
of Delphos; Theodore, a merchant of Spencerville; and Mary, widow of
George Schilling. Their youngest child, Mrs. Vetter was born in Ohio.
Proffessor Eysenbach's mind was a versatile one, turning as easily
to science as to literature and music. He spent some years inventing
and perfecting astronomical apparatus. He was probably one of the most
learned men who ever lived out a quiet, useful life in Allen County and
he commanded the respect and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him.